Mackenzie Crook's 'Small Prophets' streams on Apple TV

Apple TV has added the BBC series Small Prophets to its streaming platform. The show consists of six half-hour episodes created by writer-director Mackenzie Crook. It combines deadpan humor with fantasy elements and social comedy to tell a story set in a suburban neighborhood.

The narrative centers on Michael Sleep, a man in his fifties played by Pearce Quigley. He lives in a house with an overgrown lawn that he has maintained unchanged for seven years. His partner, Clea, disappeared mysteriously during that time. Michael continues to hope she will return, so he keeps the home as it was.

Michael works part-time at the Tool Box, a retail store similar to a hardware chain. He also spends time at the retirement home where his father, Brian, resides. Michael Palin portrays Brian, an inventive but scattered man who encourages his son to try an unusual experiment.

Brian tells Michael about a friend in Egypt who could summon homunculi. These are miniature humanoid beings that grow inside glass jars. They answer any question and always speak the truth. Brian provides Michael with the recipe for creating them, suggesting he ask the creatures what happened to Clea.

Although skeptical, Michael begins the procedure. The process requires old coins and a large amount of manure. While he works on the jars in his shed, other characters enter his life and disrupt his routine.

Roy, Clea's brother, played by Paul Kaye, appears in the story. He is broke and wants to claim Michael's house. He shadows Michael to make his case. Additionally, Michael's neighbors become interested in his household. Clive, the next-door neighbor, is frustrated by Michael's messy yard. His wife, Bev, finds Michael intriguing because of his unique demeanor.

Michael also develops a friendship with Kacey, a young coworker played by Lauren Patel. They bond over their shared dislike of their boss, Gordon. Gordon is an officious and incompetent manager with a greasy ponytail. Crook portrays Gordon in the series. Kacey has large dreams but holds a dead-end job, a situation that resonates with Michael's own feelings of stagnation.

The show features several poetic visual elements, including a falling star and an oil spill shaped like a rabbit. When the homunculi finally appear, they are described as fragile and haunting. Their faces show signs of pain and isolation. Being trapped in bottles, they reflect the solitude experienced by the human characters in the story.

Michael Quigley's performance is noted for being droll and quietly confident. Michael Sleep is portrayed as uncynical, caring, and loyal. He accepts the differences in the people around him without making a fuss. He remains open to the wonder of life despite his personal losses.

Small Prophets follows the style of Crook's previous work, including the comedy series Detectorists. That show focused on members of a metal detecting club searching for buried gold. Crook's new series casts a sympathetic view on loners, oddballs, and misfits. The characters are often caught in unsatisfying jobs or thwarted hopes, yet the show treats them with delicate care.